Agenda item

The Superintendent and Registrar, Alan José, presented a Report noting the following matters associated with the Crematorium (for copy, see file of minutes). 

Cremations

The Superintendent and Registrar reported the number of cremations for the period 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010 inclusive.  These were 562 (+ 2 NVF), an increase of 44 (- 9 NVF) on the same period in the previous year.  The total of 562 (+ 2 NVF) included 385 from outside the area, with the remaining total being 177 for the area.

Memorial Gardens

The Superintendent and Registrar reported that during the period 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010, the following Vase Blocks and Memorial Plaques had been sold:

Vase Blocks                9

Large Plaques           32

Small Plaques             7

Columbaria                  2 

Total                           33

Financial Information (Net of VAT)

Vase Blocks              2,574.65

Large Plaques           8,861.10

Small Plaques           ­­1,642.92

Columbaria                2,290.00

Total                      £15,368.67

50 Year Anniversary

The Superintendent and Registrar apprised Members of the successful 50 Year Anniversary events held the weekend of 6-8 August 2010.  Members were informed of the dinner held at County Hall, Friday 6 August 2010 and noted the many guests who had been in attendance, notably the Mayors and Chairman of both Spennymoor and Durham.  The Superintendent and Registrar took the opportunity to commend the superb job of Stuart Thompson and his catering team from County Hall.  The Joint Committee heard that feedback regarding the event had been extremely positive and there had been many requests for a copy of the commemorative booklet.  The Superintendent and Registrar explained that it would be possible to update the booklet as necessary and use it as part of the promotional literature for the Crematorium.  Members noted the articles written by the Superintendent and Registrar that had been published in professional journals, including one for the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management which was included with the agenda papers.

Councillor N Foster noted that the celebration events had been excellent; however, he reminded Members and Officers of the transition from the District Authorities to Unitary Local Government for County Durham and noted the relevant figureheads of the Joint Committee’s constituent Authorities.

Staffing

The Superintendent and Registrar informed Members that Mr John Dodd had resigned from his post on 18August 2010.  The Joint Committee noted that Mr Ray Goodson, a fully qualified Standby Cremator Operator had been engaged on a temporary contract to ensure adequate staffing cover over the next couple of months.  Members were informed that as Mr Dodd had gardening expertise it was essential that an experienced Gardener was recruited to ensure that the high standards of maintenance, essential at the Crematorium, were maintained.

Councillor J Marr asked how the position would be advertised.  The Superintendent and Registrar noted he was liaising with staff from Neighbourhood Services about the vacancy and it would be advertised internally at the two constituent Authorities in the first instance, then externally should there be no internal applicants, subject to the agreement of the Joint Committee.

Joint Conference of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities and Cremation Society of Great Britain

The Superintendent and Registrar informed the Joint Committee of the Joint Conference of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities and Cremation Society of Great Britain held in Statford-upon-Avon, 5-7 July 2010.

Members were asked to note several keynote addresses given at the Conference including those on reform to the Coroner Service, the continued risk of pandemic flu and the progress towards the appointment of Medical Examiners.  The Superintendent and Registrar noted that there was also an update on the legal position regarding funeral pyres.

Councillor J Marr noted that he spoke to representatives from the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at the Conference and there was no scope for deadlines regarding mercury abatement to be relaxed and the Superintendent and Registrar noted that there could be scope for action to be taken against those not compliant by the 2012 deadline.

Resolved:

That the Report be agreed and noted.